Movies for the run-up to Halloween 2010

October is upon us, and Halloween is looming nearer and nearer...

Halloween is a season of celebration for horror lovers, and this season I've made a list of what I feel are the quintessential films for getting in the Halloween mood!

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

What can I say? It's a classic. Freddy has always been one of my favorite horror movie characters because he has one thing none of the others do: charisma. He's not just some silent killer with a hocky mask and a machete, oh no, he'll mess you up in the mind before he messes you up physically. If you've never seen this film and find it's to your liking, then you're in luck - there are 6 sequels, a team up with Jason Vorhees, and a 2010 remake to keep you entertained!

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1978)

Again, it's just a classic. The 70s were filled with slasher-flicks, but this one just has that "it-factor" that set it apart from the others. I'm not sure if it's the leather made from people, or the little happy-dance at the end, but after 32 years, 3 sequels, a prequel, a remake, a comic book series, AND a video game, I think it's safe to say that this is one slasher-flick that has stood the test of time.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

What's this? Listing the same movie twice in a row? Has Sophie lost it? No, my dears, for this is one of the few instances where I like a remake just as much, and for different reasons, as the original. This film follows the same basic plot as the first one: a group of people seek refuge in a mall during a zombie outbreak. However, the remake has one very crucial difference - these zombies don't trudge around slowly, they haul ass. It is also one of the few films, I think, where the scariest part is the scene right before the credits roll. Just you wait ^_^

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

The posters anouncing the arrival of this movie in the late 70s bore the slogan "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the Earth", a phrase that still terrifies most people settling down to the movie today (including me!). Now, I have seen a lot of zombie movies in my time, and Dawn of the Dead may just be my favorite. It's George A. Romaro's sequel to his first zombie masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead, but this really takes it up a notch. Zombies are now a pandemic, and a lot more gruesome than their black-and-white predecessors. This movie is filled with so much gore that is is actually banned in 17 different countries. There are plans to re-release the film in 3D, so be on a look out for that!

The Silence of the Lambs ( 1991)

Now, Silence of the Lambs is not just one of my favorite horror movies - it is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. I can't get enough. Hannibal Lecter is absolutely the most terrifying thing ever to be in a movie, EVER, and it's all becase you know he's smarter than you, and he knows what you're going to do before you know. Honestly, this movie is so scary that I can't watch any other movie with Anthony Hopkins without wanting to throw up. Now THAT'S the sign of a good film.

The Exorcist (1973)

Now, I know this has been on every "Top 10" movie list ever made, but hear me out - even by today's standards, when we're used to CGI blowing us away with gruesome horror movie effects, The Exorcist is STILL one of the most terrifying movies of all time. All possession-themed movies really freak me out, but this is the original, and just takes the cake compared to newer films of the same genre like the recent The Last Exorcism. If the original cut isn't scary enough for you (ha!) you could check out the Exorcist: 25th Anniversary Special Edition which features the infamous and previously unreleased "spider-walk" scene, or The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen which features the digitally re-mastered "bloody" version of the same scene.

The Saw Series (2004-2010)

Yes, I know it probably meeans that deep down I'm a sick and twisted person, but I absolutely love the Saw series. The 7th an final movie in the seies will be coming out this Halloween in 3D, which is pretty exciting news! Now, the thing most people think about Saw is that it's just mindless gore - this is not so. The Saw series actually (somewhat) teaches a moral lesson, seeing as how everyone who is put into the "games" are immoral people. Also, it has an incredibly intricate plot, whith subplots that twist throughout all seven movies and flashbacks to previous movies that change the current situation. Of course, the neverending violence (the first movie was originally going to be rated NC-17 before it was re-edited) also helps make it the perfect Halloween scare-fest movie!

Halloween (2007)

Obviously, If it's Halloween time you have to watch Halloween. Now, I have made a decision that is somewhat controversial among die-hard horror fans, and decided to list the 2007 reimagining as opposed to the 1978 original. I like the fact that the newer version is not just a remake, but includes a lot of original content and gives it that Rob Zombie feel. It updates the movie and makes it more relevant for what we will soon be facing - the horror of trying to go to sleep on Halloween night 2010.

More by this Author

Knitting has been a popular craft for many generations, both for practical uses and for sheer enjoyment. I myself have enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and doing smiler crafts for a long time, but have recently branched...

First Off..... I know there are a lot of Twilight fans out there who feel like Twilight is the most amazing thing ever, OMG EDWARD I LOVE YOU, I need a boy who sparkles, etc etc, Well, guess what? You are wrong. No,...

I remember being a kid when Pokémon was first starting to gain popularity: how I would beg my parents to buy a pack of the cards for me every time we went to the store, how I sat in reverence watching the...